The Art Renewal Center is the foremost entity for researching and vetting art schools that teach skill-based training techniques in the visual arts. For those interested in acquiring strong technical skills in the visual arts, ARC Approval™ holds more weight than college or university accreditation, where for the vast majority, technical drawing, painting, and sculpting skills are not the priority. ARC is known for keeping the highest standards in art education, only approving those schools who teach solid, skill-based training methods, which increase visual literacy. The schools ARC endorses have instructors who have heavily trained in these methods and are able to produce high quality works of their own, thereby having the qualifications necessary to instruct others on how to create works of art with fully rendered and accurately depicted realistic imagery. The type of concentrated technical training the Art Renewal Center promotes first developed in the late middle ages/ early renaissance and was used as the primary form of studio art education throughout Europe and later, America. It was used all the way through the 19th century into the early 20th century before it died out almost completely with the inception of purely conceptual art. This type of training originally started as apprenticeships, and developed into guilds, small schools known as ateliers, and eventually large national schools during the 18th and 19th centuries, and was the type of training that almost all of the most famous old master and 19th century artists would have had, which is what enabled them to create accurate realistic imagery, shadow, and form, including anatomy and the human figure. This was the method learned by artists such as Michelangelo, Botticelli, Leonardo Da Vinci, Rembrandt, all the way through to Sargent, Bouguereau, Gerome, Alma-Tadema, Lord Leighton, Il'ia Repin, Ivan Aivazovsky, and even by artists such as Monet, Degas and Van Gogh.

To view artist video demonstrations, click here.To read technical article on how to paint and draw, click here. To view a list of artist self help books and DVDs, click here.

If you need financial aid to help attend one of these schools, please view our Art Scholarship List. If you are already attending or have been accepted to an ARC Approved™ school and would like to enter our ARC Scholarship Competition where we award $30,000 a year to students attending ARC Approved™ schools, click here for more information.

ARC offers serious atelier students an unfinished Bouguereau painting in super high resolution to aid with their studies. Scores of classical artists have been requesting this from us for years and finally it is now available.

Letters pertaining to art training:

Mark Junge and other ARC correspondents discuss the problems of earning a living as a painter ...

IT IS A WELL-KNOWN FACT that few, if any, of the college and university art departments of today are able to provide the kind of genuine art instruction sought by ever-growing numbers of students and aspiring young artists. The Art Renewal Center recognizes the importance of providing information on ateliers, academies, schools and private instructors dedicated to the teaching of art in the traditional manner, and is pleased to list them here. The future of the fine arts is in the hands of the artists and teachers of today and of the next generation.

The Twentieth Century was a disaster for art instruction, which degenerated into what amounted, at most colleges and universities, to no more than indoctrination to the modernists' party line, masquerading as education; a farce and a fraud. Several generations of would-be artists were tremendously discouraged by what was happening in the art departments of the educational institutions from the time of World War II onward, and were seriously handicapped, at the very least, in the pursuit of their goals to become capable artists in the true sense of the word. Art has suffered mightily from this travesty.

The 20th century practically destroyed five hundred years of carefully acquired knowledge in the art and science of fine painting. Today, not many college or university art departments have faculties that can actually paint and draw with any ability or knowledge. Performance art, conceptual art, installations, video, talk and posturing, have largely replaced what we used to think of as art. Faculty members who are the products of modernism simply don't know how to draw or how to use paint. One doesn't teach what one doesn't know, hence the old ways are lost. This tendency has even spread to many professional art schools, where in many cases certain vital components are no longer properly understood or taught.

Times are changing though. There is a great groundswell of interest on the part of the young in traditional painting and accurate drawing. The discipline will take twenty to fifty years before it gets back to the point where it was in about 1880. After that, watch out! Most of the great works are yet to be done.

-- Bill Whitaker, professional artist

It is now a new century, a new millennium, and time for the Twentieth Century and the worst aspects of it to be relegated to past tense. Let the ridiculous notions regarding art that characterized the past century be restricted to that century. It is time for something better.

Only with mastery of one's medium is there any realistic possibility of artistic freedom, of creative expression, and of the attainment of excellence in the Fine Arts of drawing, painting and sculpture. These doors are not open to anyone lacking the skills and perceptive powers necessary to communicate his or her inspired visions to the intended audience in a comprehensible way. Without a solid grounding in the basics, effective communication through art is impossible. Thus it is of the utmost importance for serious aspiring artists to study where the basics are taught in a time-tested and proven manner. We at the Art Renewal Center are happy to provide information of where such quality instruction may be had, in the sincere hope and belief that art can and will once again be a respectable and respected endeavor; that great accomplishments can not only be achieved, but also acknowledged as such and rewarded handsomely, as is their due.

This is our current list of ARC Approved™ Atelier and pre-atelier schools. All listings are subject to change as faculty, programs and curricula are always changing and shifting. As our staff continues to analyze and study programs of study that are on and off our list, inevitably we will add additional schools and occasionally some may need to be removed or their descriptions changed.

This list should not be considered complete, as there are no doubt others, which have not yet come to our attention. We encourage our readers to inform us of schools, ateliers, academies and private instructors whose teaching is of the highest quality, that we may investigate and confirm these reports, and add the best of them to our ARC Approved™ list as a service to our readers, in order to help them become the best artists they can be.

* The Art Renewal Center (ARC) is a private, not-for-profit foundation, that has experienced classically trained artists, art historians and scholars, whose judgement is based on years of experience and research, with expertise and standards for reviewing and approving schools, artists and ateliers that foster the classical tradition in art and are deemed worthy of recognition by ARC. Such recognition does not reflect in any way the support or accreditation of the United States Department of Education or any other governmental entity authorized to accredit educational programs or institutions. In fact ARC may be in disagreement with such institutions or agencies, most of which we believe have been warped or even over-run by Modernist ideology and theory. You should use our recommendations if you accept the principles, philosophy and mission of the Art Renewal Center.

The Academy of Realist Art (ARA) is one of a select few private institutions in the world that teaches drawing and painting in the old master tradition. We model our curriculum and teaching techniques on the 19th-century European academies with the aim of helping students achieve the highest caliber of skills possible. The foundations we provide can help professionals and amateurs alike achieve exceptional results well beyond their expectations.

ARA's highly successful, step-by-step process teaches students at all levels, from beginner to advanced, to develop realist painting skills. When completed, our four-level program, which is available on a full- or flexible part-time basis, will enable the graduate to approach the most challenging drawing and painting projects with confidence and skill, regardless of their chosen style and medium. Individual instruction is offered in a friendly, supportive and pressure-free group setting where students can learn at their own pace. The only pre-requisites are an interest in drawing and painting, and a willingness to try.

Our progressive curriculum is designed to build on achievements gained at each stage. These stages include:

Charles Bargue drawings in graphite

Charcoal cast drawings

Monochromatic cast paintings

Full colour still life paintings

Students at all levels also receive instruction in working from the live model throughout the program. Life drawing and painting classes are offered several times a week to accommodate different schedules and needs.

Currently our certificate program is offered in Toronto, Ontario and Boston. ARA also offers a number of highly-popular one- and two-week workshops, where participants can develop high level skills in a range of academic styles and media, from Old Master techniques and red chalk drawing to portrait, figure, still life and landscape painting.

ARA also offers instructional DVDs on Drawing the Figure, and the soon to be released In the Studios of the Old Masters. Visit our website to find out more.

The Academy of Realist Art (ARA) Boston was established in 2008 by Cindy MacMillan, a graduate of Michael John Angel Studios (MJAS) now ARA. After completing the rigorous program in Toronto and Florence, Cindy went on to earn a masters degree from the New York Academy of Art in 2007. A recipient of scholarships from the Art Renewal Center and the New York Academy of Art, Cindy's work has won numerous awards and is collected internationally.

Conveniently located in the historic Leather District of Boston, (one block from South Station), ARA Boston is one of a select few private institutions in the world that teaches drawing and painting in the old master tradition. We model our curriculum and teaching techniques on the 19th-century European academies with the aim of helping students achieve the highest caliber of skills possible. The foundations we provide can help professionals and amateurs alike achieve exceptional results well beyond their expectations.

Our highly successful, step-by-step process teaches students at all levels, from beginner to advanced, to develop realist painting skills. When completed, our four-level program, which is available on a full- or flexible part-time basis, will enable the graduate to approach the most challenging drawing and painting projects with confidence and skill, regardless of their chosen style and medium. Individual instruction is offered in a friendly, supportive and pressure-free group setting where students can learn at their own pace.

Our progressive curriculum is designed to build on achievements gained at each stage. These stages include:

Charles Bargue drawings in graphite

Charcoal cast drawings

Cast paintings

Full color still life paintings

Drawing from the live figure model

Painting from the live figure model

ARA Boston offers instruction from Monday to Thursday. It also hosts a variety of one- and two-week drawing and painting workshops, where participants can develop high level skills in a range of academic styles and mediums led by ARA instructors and guest artists. ARA Boston is also a Massachusetts PDP Provider.

Ewan McNaughtonEmail: enquiries@academyofrealistart.co.ukWebsite: http://www.academyofrealistart.co.uk/5th Floor, St Margaret's House, 151 London RoadEdinburgh, Scotland EH7 6AE United KingdomPhone: 4401313082541Set in the heart of the beautiful historic city of Edinburgh, The Academy of Realist Art (ARA) is one of a select few private institutions in the world that teaches drawing and painting in the old master tradition. We model our curriculum and teaching techniques on the 19th-century European academies with the aim of helping students achieve the highest calibre of skills possible. The foundations we provide can help professionals and amateurs alike achieve exceptional results well beyond their expectations.

ARA's highly successful, step-by-step process teaches students at all levels, from beginner to advanced, to develop realist painting skills. When completed, our four-level program, which is available on a full- or flexible part-time basis, will enable the graduate to approach the most challenging drawing and painting projects with confidence and skill, regardless of their chosen style and medium. Individual instruction is offered in a friendly, supportive and pressure-free group setting where students can learn at their own pace. The only pre-requisites are an interest in drawing and painting, and a willingness to try.

Our progressive curriculum is designed to build on achievements gained at each stage. These stages include:

Charles Bargue drawings in graphite

Charcoal cast drawings

Cast paintings

Full colour still life paintings

Figure drawing

Figure painting

Students at all levels also receive instruction in working from the live model throughout the program. Life drawing and painting classes are offered several times a week to accommodate different schedules and needs.

Currently our certificate program is offered in Edinburgh, Toronto, Ottawa, and Boston. ARA also offers a number of highly-popular one- and two-week workshops, where participants can develop high level skills in a range of academic styles and media, from Old Master techniques and red chalk drawing to portrait, figure, still life and landscape painting.

Painter and portraitist, Adrian Gottlieb, offers instruction in painting methods developed from the Renaissance through the early 20th century with a particular emphasis on Gottliebís ongoing research and experimentation with 16th and 17th century painting techniques. Gottlieb shares his working studio with a select group of 9 students who wish to pursue introductory through advanced painting methods and techniques.

While the concentrated focus of this course is on painting techniques and specifically Painting the Figure in Oils, the importance of developing strong drawing skills is stressed. As an artist trained in the atelier tradition, Gottliebís program centers on sight-size as well as analytical drawing, gesture and perspective - all as the foundation for figure and portrait painting.

Painting the Figure in Oil is not an introductory drawing program; therefore, Adrian prefers that applicants possess a level of drawing proficiency that assures they are ready to study beginning painting through advanced and professional level painting techniques and methods. Intermediate level and advanced level painters are very welcome since the program is designed in the apprenticeship style - each participant, works at their own level of achievement and advances from that point onward. Students advance by way of ìsystematic progression,î working at individual speeds as they accomplish and build on techniques and methods.

Students work under north-facing natural light from skylights in a 1500 sq. foot studio space. 5500k fluorescent tubes with wide reflector hoods provide supplemental lighting as necessary. Long-poses are essential to the accomplishment of fully finished paintings; therefore, models. return each week to pose in the same position (conforming to the original pose in every detail) for the full ten sessions. Techniques include but are not limited to alla prima, wet in wet, glazing, and scumbling with a goal of achieving luminosity and capturing the illusion of the essence of life.

Course offerings include intensive, interactive workshops: The MECHANICS OF PAINTING, covering the tools of the painter, archival materials preparation from preparing canvas grounds to pigment grinding, cleaning oils, preparing mediums, varnishes, and exploration of Italian and Dutch methods developed during the Renaissance and Baroque. These methods have been translated from historic texts as well as from the forefront of new discoveries based on Renaissance and Baroque formulas researched through the National Gallery in London and scientific journals.

Private instruction may be available for up to two additional highly promising students who require preparation for acceptance to the painting program.

Adrian Gottlieb frequently paints alongside students, maintaining close interaction and allowing for a more spontaneous response to student needs. PAINTING THE FIGURE IN OILS is offered every Saturday from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm. and runs for ten weeks. Four semesters are offered per year.

The Mechanics of Oil Painting: An Intensive, Interactive Materials Workshop is offered Sundays from 1:00pm to 4:00pm and runs for 8 weeks.

To watch a video of comments from students and instructors about the Angel Academy of Art, Florence, please click here.

We also wish to invite you to have a look at our blog where all the latest news about the Angel Academy of Art, Florence, dedicated to the continuance of Classic Realist Painting, can now be found:http://angelacademyart.blogspot.it

Angel Academy of Art

Dedicated to the Continuance of Classical and Realist Painting

The Angel Academy of Art, is a private institution that teaches drawing and painting in the old master tradition. While this tradition has its roots at least as early as 14th century Italy, the curriculum and the teaching techniques are grounded on those of the 19th century European academies and are the result of over 30 years of research and experiment by the school's founder, Michael John Angel. This successful, step-by-step process teaches the student to thoroughly appropriate the skills needed for representational painting.

M.J. Angel, born in England in 1946, has been painting and studying art since his mid-teens and has himself studied under the great Italian master, Pietro Annigoni. Through Annigoni, Mr. Angel was made aware of the lack of an effective method of teaching in the universities and public art schools. Even in Europe, where some vestiges of the old methods of cast drawing and still life remain, the official schools lack the knowledge to effectively teach Realism and frustrate the student by trying to apply various 20th century concepts to a pre-20th century discipline. At the Angel Academy, on the other hand, the principles involved in these disciplines are found to be concretely describable and, through a series of exercises over a four-year period, the student learns how to master them.

Staff

Anna Brookes, Director of Admissions and Administration.

Michael John Angel is the studio director, senior instructor and co-founder of the Angel Academy of Art, Florence.

Mr. Angel is regarded as one of the foremost classical painters in Europe and North America: his paintings and portraits hang in both public and private collections on both sides of the Atlantic. While he has few peers in portrait painting, where his commissions read like a Who's Who of corporate North America, Mr. Angel's real passion is painting myths and allegories. Currently, he has been concentrating on these, painting murals and altarpieces in a number of churches and villas in Italy, and in private residences in the United States.

Known to his students as "maestro," Mr Angel is considered one of the most inspiring and successful artists in classical and traditional art today.

Mr. Angel has taught workshops at the American Academy in Chicago, in addition to lecturing at the Florentine campuses of several American universities and various private schools in Canada. 1982-1989 Director of the National Portrait Academy in Toronto 1992-1995 the Assistant Director of the Florence Academy of Art in Florence, Italy. 1997 Co-founded Angel Academy of Art in Florence, Italy

Films:90-minute documentary by Artatak Films of Toronto and Rainbow Films of Florence entitled Annigoni: Portrait of an Artist The Road to Castagno, profiles the work of Mr. Angel (viewed at Cannes Documentary festival and Montreal's 12th Festival International du Film sur l'Art).

Jered Woznicki, Assistant Director, senior instructor and the maestro's personal assistant, was born in Chicago. He studied at the American Academy of Art, from which he graduated in 1994. In Chicago, he worked with the noted painter Warren Prindle. Jered Woznicki's art has won various awards throughout the United States, as well as in Italy. In 1999 he took fourth place in the prestigious Florence Biennale, an international assembly of over 500 recognized artists. Mr. Woznicki's work is to be found in private and public collections in Europe and in North America. Although busy with teaching, he works with Mr. Angel on large scale commissions and on his own figure and still-life paintings.

Nicole Lalande - Nicole Lalande has created an extensive collection of paintings and drawings based on private commissions and has exhibited her work in solo and group exhibitions. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, Canada. This was then succeeded by a Diploma in Drawing and Painting from the Angel Academy of Art, Florence, Italy.

Ms Lalande has previously taught with a board of education in northern Canada, and also worked with government-funded art institutions, teaching drawing and painting. When she is not teaching, she spends her time working independently on commissioned work, and on developing work for future exhibitions.

Giulia Bucciarelli - Giulia Bucciarelli studied drawing and painting under local painters in Florence and took classes at the Accademia di Belle Arti of Florence and figure-drawing classes at the Scuola Libera del Nudo for three years, subsequently graduating from the Angel Academy of Art, Florence, where she is now teaching.

Ms Bucciarelli has exhibited her work in the exhibition LíEredità di Annigoni, held at the Villa Bardini in 2010, and currently splits her time between teaching, private commissions and her own portrait and still-life paintings.

Brian Smyth - Brian Smyth is an award-winning graduate of the Crawford College of Art and Design. He has had several succesful solo exhibitions in Dublin and London and has participated in and curated many group exhibitions. He has completed many private commissions, including a 14-painting Stations of the Cross commission for a church restoration project in his native Co. Cork.

Brian has his works in many private and public collections and continues to develop his technique, to exhibit his paintings and to work on portrait commissions.

Brian began his studies in The Angel Academy in 2012 and has worked there as an instructor since 2013.

James Tucker - James Tucker was born in Sydney Australia. In 2003 he graduated from Computer Graphics College with an advanced diploma in 3D animation. In 2008 James began study at Julian Ashton Art School, Sydney, where he exhibited in several group exhibitions between 2008 and 2011. He was awarded the inaugural George Lambert prize for sculpture in 2008 and the Brett Whiteley scholarship in 2010. James began his studies at the Angel Academy of Art, Florence, in 2011 and graduated in 2013.

In 2014 he exhibited several works in the Students and Teachers Exhibition at Angel Academy of Art, Florence, and was a finalist in the Art Renewal Centre International Salon. He now teaches at the Angel Academy while continuing to paint and refine his technique in his studio. His works are in private collections in Canada, USA, Italy, Asia and Australia.

Visiting Summer Workshop Faculty

Martinho Isidro Correia - Martinho Isidro Correia is a fine artist and educator and is currently teaching summer workshops in portrait painting and still life at the Angel Academy. A graduate of the University of Calgary (BFA in Painting), University of British Colombia in Vancouver (BEd in Art Education), Angel Academy of Art in Florence, Italy (Diploma in Drawing and Painting) and The European University/Pontifical Athenaeum, 'Regina Apostolorum' in Rome (Masters in Architecture, Sacred Art and Liturgy), Martinho splits his time between teaching, private commissions and gallery work. In January of 2013 he will begin teaching a course in Sacred Art at St. Mary's University College in Calgary, Canada.

In his studio, Martinho Correia is painting portrait and still-life commissions. Please visit his website for more examples of his work: www.martinhoart.com

Colleen Barry - Colleen Barry currently lives and works in Brooklyn NY. A student of the National Academy of Design, the Harlem Studio of Art, the Hudson River Landscape School, and the Water Street Atelier, she has been the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards. As a student, she exhibited her work at the National Academy of Art, The National Arts Club, the Cork Gallery in Lincoln Center, and Frost and Reed Gallery in London and NY.

While attending The National Academy of Design, Colleen studied independently with Ghanaian painter Sam Adoquei. In 2004, sculptor Greg Wyatt awarded her the Newington-Cropsy Award which sent her to Italy to study the Italian masters. Upon her return home, Colleen began a 2 year study under Andrea Smith at the Harlem Studio of Art in New York City.

In 2008, Colleen began a 4 year course of study with painter Jacob Collins at the Water Street Atelier in New York City. It was here that Colleen immersed herself in the study of human anatomy, figure and portrait painting.

Colleen resided at the American Academy in Rome as a visiting artist for three months in September 2011. Afterward she traveled extensively throughout Europe copying old master paintings in the great museums of Rome, Florence and Paris.

Colleen Barry is currently teaching a summer workshop "The Structure of the Human Body; Drawing Workshop" at the Angel Academy. www.colleenbarryart.com

The Programmes

The Fundamental Programme evolved from a combination of Mr. Angel's research and that of a number of students of the great American painter, R.H. Ives Gammell, whose pedigree, in turn, goes back to the French Academy. The programme begins with work from a specially prepared set of lithographs, which quickly teach the student the basic skills of accurate rendering (the Angel Academy of Art uses the best set of instructional drawings: that made by Charles Bargue in the 19th century, at the behest of Jean-Leon Gerome. The studio owns many of the originals). With these new-found skills, the student progresses to cast work, first in charcoal, then in oil paint, and from these to still life, the best arena in which to learn colour, texture and the illusion of three dimensions. Work from the live model begins immediately and is central to our programmes.

To acquire the utmost in accuracy and execution, the school uses the venerable 'sight-size' method. Beyond this, the Angel Academy of Art, teaches a system of comparative measurement in which the student learns to incorporate the conceptual with the realistic. This system is unique among modern-day Realist ateliers.

The Graduate Programme comprises two electives: Portrait Painting and Composition, (both Form and Colour). Work from the live model continues.

The Working Studio

Beyond the Graduate Programme is a Working Studio, based on Renaissance and Baroque principles and open to all our graduates. The student works on actual commissions, such as mural panels (figurative and decorative) and portraits (drapery and backgrounds). Angel Studios is unique in offering this on-the-job introduction to the realities of professional painting and the techniques involved in large-scale work. Every so often, the studio creates a show for New York or London.

The studio emphasizes the importance of professionalism for those who intend to pursue painting as a career. Contrary to popular belief, the profession of artist is a very real one; a properly trained painter can expect to earn a salary equivalent to that of a doctor or lawyer. Study with us should be seen as a career investment.

Only half our students are professional trainees, however. The rest are gifted amateurs with a genuine love of this fine old art and a determination to learn how to do it. We welcome them!

The completed curriculum will allow the graduate to confidently approach and overcome the most difficult projects in drawing and painting. Using the skills, techniques, knowledge, and approach that are taught at Angel Studios and the Angel Academy of Art, works of art of the highest possible quality are attainable.

A Final Word

The school's method is that of individual instruction in a group setting. That is, each student is evaluated on an on going basis and advances largely in accordance with the time and effort he or she can invest. Since the programme is a succession of carefully designed projects, a student's prior training and experience do not influence the assignments given; only the speed at which instruction is absorbed. In general, the atmosphere at the Angel Academy is relaxed and convivial. Competition is friendly, and there is an air of support and respect among both students and instructors: their goals are, after all, mutual.

We also wish to invite you to have a look at our blog where all the latest news about the Angel Academy of Art, Florence, dedicated to the continuance of Classic Realist Painting, can now be found:http://angelacademyflorence.wordpress.com/

TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATION

To register for any of the above workshops please download directly from our Website on the Workshops page the Registration Form send it by e-mail to: info.angel@angelartschool.com

From rounded mirrors to the camera-obscura to digital images, artists have always taken advantage of technology to assist them in making their art. In this unique workshop, students are introduced to a method that combines work from the live model with photography.

The instructor, Martinho Correia, guides students through the steps he uses to create portraits and other figurative works.

Students begin by studying various portrait masters, focusing on value and colour design. Work from the live model focuses on accuracy of colour and subtlety of form. The practice of using photographs as source material is explained and practiced.

The goal of the workshop is to create an expressive portrait by taking advantage of the best aspects of the live model, the artist's imagination and the camera. Methods of teaching include: individual and group critiques, demonstrations of technique and discussion of the various methods and materials of painting.

Workshop Fee Euros: 1900.00 Euros (including Model Fee)

(The cost of some of the materials are included in this price. Other materials, however, are to be provided by the student. A Materials List will be provided on registration). The fee includes: 10-days tuition.Not included are: accommodation, airfares, transport and all other expenses.

In this two-week intensive course, Nicole Lalande will guide students through the creation of several landscape studies, employing the traditional practices used at the Angel Academy coupled with the vivacity and spontaneity inherent in painting en plein air. Students will spend the workshop in various scenic locations in and around Florence, drawing and painting directly from nature.

The workshop will cover the technical side of painting, both material and procedural. The class will be taught a highly successful approach to painting through a series of studies. Subjects such as composition, the creation of various textures in nature, colour and more will be covered.

This workshop is open to students of all levels and will be a wonderful opportunity to employ fundamental methods taught at the academy while working outside the studio in the enchanting, visually rich cradle of the Renaissance.

Please note that some locations will require a fair amount of walking while carrying your painting equipment.

Early reservations are recommended, as student numbers are purposely limited to allow for a high degree of individual attention.

Workshop Fee Euros: 1600.00 (the cost of some of the materials are included in this price. Other materials, however, are to be provided by the student. A Materials List will be provided on registration).The fee includes: 10 days tuition. Not included: accommodation, airfares, transport and all other expenses.

The course involves 60 hours of full instruction, together with lectures. Class times: Monday to Friday 9.30 to 12.30 and then will continue from 16.00 to 19.00

In this two-week workshop, students gain familiarity with the techniques of one of these masters: Rubens, Velazquez and van Dyck, and the best way to facilitate this is through a faithful reconstruction of a painting, by making a copy. This allows students to acquire a deeper understanding of both the aesthetics and the techniques used by these old-masters, and helps them greatly to improve as painters.

Working from a choice among several high-quality reproductions supplied by the academy, students have the opportunity to thoroughly study how Rubens, Velazquez and van Dyck created their extraordinary works. All stages of a painting, from the drawing to the final nuances using glazes, are discussed and put into practice. Further topics include: colour, paint quality, edge treatment, the relation of light to form and much more.

Gallery of Workshop Images (please see our website for the images www.angelartschool.com)Please choose which image you would like to copy during the workshop and inform us of your decision so that we may supply you with a reproduction:

Pieter Paul Rubens - The Holy Family with Saint Anne

Pieter Paul Rubens - Venus and Cupid

Diego Velazquez - Prince Baltasar Carlos as a Hunter

Diego Velazquez - The God Mars

Anthony van Dyck - Daedalus and Icarus

Anthony van Dyck - Frans Snyders

Early reservations are recommended, as student numbers are purposely limited to allow for a high degree of individual attention.

Workshop Fee Euros: 1700.00

(The cost of some of the materials are included in this price - other materials, however, are to be provided by the student. A Materials List will be provided on registration).

The fee includes: 10-days tuition.Not included are: accommodation, airfares, transport and all other expenses.

Learning to Paint in Oils by Copying Bouguereau and Leighton: a Grisaille Underpainting and Glazed Overpainting - 29 June - 10 July 2015Instructor: Maestro Michael John Angel

Copying master paintings is the fastest way to learn and the surest way for a painter to improve. In this workshop, the students copy paintings by William Bouguereau and Frederic, Lord Leighton from high quality reproductions that are provided by the Angel Academy.

By dividing the painting process into a grisaille underpainting and a coloured, translucently glazed overpainting, the painter can first concentrate on strong drawing en grisaille, and then on brilliant colour created with transluscent glazes. Towards the end of the process, opaque impasto is added to various areas.

Maestro Michael John Angel gives several painting demonstrations throughout the two weeks and teaches the class how to stay in control of the drawing while developing the colour.

Students also receive various pdf and jpeg send-outs that encapsulate the correct methods of using oil paint. These send-outs explain the different grounds, materials and mediums used in oil painting and also describe the various layers used in classic underpainting-overpainting techniques.

A short biography of Mr Angel can be found on the Angel Academy's website. He is listed in the Art Renewal Center's Living Masters gallery, and has served as a judge for several national and international competitions, including the ARC International Salon competition (twice), the IlluXCon international competition, and the Portrait Society of Canada (twice). He has been asked to serve as judge for la Collection Beaux-Arts Realiste, 2014.

Gallery of Workshop Images (please see our website for the images www.angelartschool.com)
Please choose which image you would like to copy during the workshop and inform us of your decision so that we may supply you with a reproduction:

Frederic, Lord Leighton - Flaming June

Frederic, Lord Leighton - The Garden of the Hesperides

Frederic, Lord Leighton - A Girl

William Adolphe Bouguereau - A Young Girl Defending Herself Against Love

William Adolphe Bouguereau - The Little Thieves

William Adolphe Bouguereau - Portrait of Gabrielle Cot

Early reservations are recommended, as student numbers are purposely limited to allow for a high degree of individual attention.

Workshop Fee Euros: 2100.00 (The cost of some of the materials are included in this price. Other materials, however, are to be provided by the student. A Materials List will be provided on registration).

The fee includes: 10 days tuition. Not included: accommodation, airfares, transport and all other expenses.

The course involves 60 hours of full instruction, together with lectures. Class times: Monday to Friday 9.30 to 12.30 and 13.30 - 16.30

In this 60-hour workshop, students will gain hands-on familiarity with the techniques of one of the great masters of sacred art, Michelangelo Merisi, also called Caravaggio. Known for dramatic compositions using light and dark, called chiaroscuro, Caravaggio developed a very specific and efficient way of working. Using a high-quality reproduction, students will have the opportunity to thoroughly study how Caravaggio created his masterpieces. Beginning with the drawing stage through to the final glazes, all stages of Caravaggio's painting process will be discussed and practiced.

The workshop will begin with a slide presentation introducing Caravaggio and his work, along with a step-by-step overview of the painting process. The instructor will demonstrate each of the key steps in the painting process and will individually assist each student as they progress on their copy.

Gallery of Workshop Images (please see our website for the images www.angelartschool.com)Please choose which image you would like to copy during the workshop and inform us of your decision so that we may supply you with a reproduction:

Madonna of the Pilgrims

St. Gerome

St. Catherine

St. John

St. Matthew

David with Goliath

Early reservations are recommended, as student numbers are purposely limited to allow for a high degree of individual attention.

Workshop Fee Euros: 1700.00 (The cost of some of the materials are included in this price - other materials, however, are to be provided by the student.
A Materials List will be provided on registration).

The fee includes: 10-days tuition.Not included are: accommodation, airfares, transport and all other expenses.

The course involves 60 hours of full instruction, together with lectures. Class times: Monday to Friday 09.30 - 12.30 and 13.30 - 16.30

Summer Workshop No. 6

Painting from the Live Model - 13 - 24 July 2015Instructor: Jered Woznicki

In this intensive two-week workshop, senior painting and drawing instructor Jered Woznicki will illustrate a cohesive step-by-step procedure designed to enhance the student's ability to render the human form.

The first week will be devoted to shorter exercises, chiefly in monochrome, that will serve to strengthen the student's understanding of the gesture, proportion and construction of the figure. The second week will encompass a single sustained pose in which the subtlety of modeling and the delicacy of flesh tones will be addressed.

This workshop includes brief demonstrations given by Mr. Woznicki on topics such as drawing with the brush, the creation of volumes, the use of a set palette, and the mixing of flesh tones for full-colour painting.

Early reservations are recommended, as student numbers are purposely limited to allow for a high degree of individual attention.

Workshop Fee Euros: 1900.00 (including Model Fee)(The cost of some of the materials are included in this price - other materials, however, are to be provided by the student. A Materials List will be provided on registration).

The fee includes: 10-days tuition.Not included are: accommodation, airfares, transport and all other expenses.

The course involves 60 hours of full instruction, together with lectures. Class times: Monday to Friday 10.00 - 13.00 and 14.00 - 17.00

With an emphasis on accurate observation, students will improve their understanding of the figure by incorporating the use of the skeleton, plaster casts (ecorche), and master drawings into their life studies. Over the course of two weeks, students will learn to complete a carefully rendered drawing from the live model, followed by a companion anatomical/structural drawing in the same pose. Colleen will dissect the pose from each position, illustrating anatomical landmarks, proportional systems, and structural conventions with the aid of masterworks from the Renaissance through 19th-century Beaux-Arts. By developing their drawings alongside 2-D ecorches, students will develop a conceptual understanding of the body that may be applied to observational drawing as well as studies from memory and imagination.A materials List will be provided on enrollment.

Early reservations are recommended, as student numbers are purposely limited to allow for a high degree of individual attention.

Workshop Fee Euros: 1900.00 (including Model Fee)(Materials are to be provided by the student. A Materials List will be provided on registration).

The fee includes: 10-days tuition.Not included are: accommodation, airfares, transport and all other expenses.

The course involves 60 hours of full instruction, together with lectures. Class times: Monday to Friday 10.00 - 13.00 and 14.00 - 17.00

Summer Workshop No. 8

Composition and the Art of Still-Life - 13 - 24 July 2015This workshop focuses on the many aspects involved in painting a still life. Students complete a number of studies and paintings in the following ways: direct painting using comparative measuring, sight-size drawing and sight-size painting, painting from a transferred drawing and indirect painting. The focus is primarily on accuracy of drawing and paint handling. The principles of still-life composition are also introduced.

During the first week students will complete a number of small drawings and still lives. They will also begin setting up a large, complicated still life. The second week is dedicated to work on this large still life.

All stages of painting are discussed. Methods of teaching include: individual and group critiques, demonstrations of technique and discussions of the various methods and materials of painting.

Workshop Fee Euros: 1700.00 (The cost of some of the materials are included in this price - other materials, however, are to be provided by the student. A Materials List will be provided on registration).

The fee includes: 10-days tuition.Not included are: accommodation, airfares, transport and all other expenses.

The course involves 60 hours of full instruction, together with lectures.Class times: Monday to Friday 10.00 - 13.00 and 14.00 - 17.00

John Angel recently wrote to Fred Ross, Chairman of the Art Renewal Center:

"What you have done (are doing) for this wonderful art of ours is beyond thanks. Sei forte! You are the best!

Ani Art Academy Waichulis (AAAW) is a private educational resource located in Northeastern Pennsylvania to assist aspiring artists in their pursuit of Representationalism. It is also the domestic headquarters for the international Ani Art Academies education project.

The Ani Art Academies International (Anguilla and Dominicana) is a global, non-profit organization that delivers a comprehensive, multi-year drawing and painting education to aspiring artists around the world. The Academies are strategically located in exotic tourist destinations with the aim to empower local artists to create, express, and communicate in new and exciting ways so as to interact with tourists and natives in a more intellectually and financially rewarding capacity.

We are a collaborative project conceived by Tim Reynolds, and brought to life with the help of our passionate students and teachers. The curriculum for The Ani Art Academies was developed by renowned Master Artist Anthony J. Waichulis who has devoted his life to teaching drawing and painting skills to many aspiring artists. He has dedicated over fifteen years to carefully designing a world class program that promises to transform any dedicated student into a highly-skilled artist.

The Ani Art Academy Waichulis program focuses on the essential fundamentals of draftsmanship, anatomy of form, elements of perception, and various methods of painting. The program encompasses principles applicable to all venues of the realist endeavor including Still Life, Trompe L'oeil, Landscape, Portrait and the Figure. Traditional materials are employed throughout the training process focusing strictly on Charcoal and Oil.

The Ani Art Academies curriculum is divided into 7 sections: Introduction to Drawing, Governing the Material, Anatomy of Form, Natural Forms, Introduction to Painting, Painting Techniques, and Endgame. With an unwavering emphasis on rudimentary exercises, efficiency, and material dynamics, our goal is to help bring the Artist's intention to life through technical excellence.

The average time frame for the Ani Art Academies Apprenticeship Program is three years. However, there is a certain flexibility that allows tailoring to fit individual goals. Some areas of focus may require more time (meticulous rendering techniques, etc.) and will increase the length of the program. Prospective Apprentices must be willing to attend full time and be extremely dedicated to completion of the training program.

Full Merit Scholarships and financial aid for the Program are available for all students, enabling them to focus on their education. The last week of each Trimester is for Performance Assessment Reviews (PARS). The PARS review system is a comprehensive analysis of a student's performance within the program. Ani Art Academies Apprentices must maintain satisfactory reviews in order to maintain their Scholarship status.

AAAW - USA Schedule/ Trimesters:

Each year is divided into three trimesters for portfolio/application review, extra-curricular event purposes, and internal organization, however the AAAW runs year round only closing for weekends and all major Holidays. The Fall Trimester runs from Sept. 1st to Dec. 15th. The Second is Jan. 5th to April 15th. The Third is May 1st to August 15th.

The Ani Art Academy Waichulis has a very small instructor to student ratio, accepting no more than ten apprentices at any given time. We value this format as it allows for a great deal of individual attention. The studio is open weekdays from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Academy - International Schedule/ Trimesters:

Each year is divided into three trimesters. The Fall Trimester runs from Sept. 1st to Dec. 15th. The Second is Jan. 5th to April 15th. The Third is May 1st to August 15th.

The Ani Art Academies maintain a very small instructor to student ratio (1:25 max.). We value this format as it allows for a great deal of individual attention. Please visit the Ani Art Academies website (www.aniartacademies.org) for each school's specific hours of operation.

On average, students can complete the apprenticeship program in three years. However, the intimate setting of Ani Art Academy Waichulis allows for tailoring to fit individual goals. Some areas of focus may require more time (meticulous rendering techniques, etc.) and will increase the length of the program. Prospective students must be willing to attend full time and be extremely dedicated to completion of the training program.

The Ani Art Academies welcome applications from all those who are dedicated to the pursuit of Representational drawing and painting. Our Program is an intensive, full-time course of study. Entrance to this highly sought after Program is primarily based on artistic merit and regional eligibility, and is determined by our thorough application process and portfolio review.

All Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, have citizenship in the region of the Academy, and have a high-school diploma or equivalent. Applications are reviewed 4 times a year (January, April, July, and October). Each Applicant will be contacted via email at the time of application review to schedule an initial phone interview and studio visit. Do not send any original artwork with your application. Please note that no application materials submitted to the Ani Art Academies will be returned.

Ani Art Academies Waichulis (the "School") admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, sexual preference, culture and religion, or with any disability, to all of the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to the School's students. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, sexual preference, culture, religion and disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship, loan and other financial aid programs, and arts and other School-administered programs.

Anthony Waichulis - (B. 1972) "hails from rural Pennsylvania and has established a national reputation for his Trompe L'oeil paintings. The brilliant dimensionality he achieves is as effective and as brilliant as the two most well known American Trompe L'oeil artists John Peto and William Harnett, but Waichulis goes well beyond in terms of the finiteness of his imagery. His paintings are compelling - conveying a sharp and wry sense of humor... he achieves perfection. U.S. currency, baseball cards, game pieces and memorabilia, as well as his own ingenious photos make up the subject matter and the results are unbelievable... ... Waichulis' works are highly prized by knowledgeable collectors from across the country and have been lauded by critics on many occasions." **

Carol Hendricks, Adult Programs ManagerEmail: carol@gageacademy.orgWebsite: http://www.gageacademy.org/adult/?page=atelier&subpage=atelier_aristidesSt. Nicholas Building, 1501 Tenth Avenue East, #10Seattle, Washington 98102 United States of AmericaPhone: 800-880-3898MethodologyThe Aristides Atelier at Gage Academy of Art (GageAcademy.org), based on the teaching methods of the 19th-century tradition, offers serious art students the opportunity to study classical drawing and painting techniques with master artist Juliette Aristides. Information is presented in a variety of formats intended to enable students of all levels to easily grasp even the most difficult concepts.

Intended for long-term students, the Aristides Atelier is designed to provide fundamental drawing and painting skills with a strong emphasis placed on accurate observation of proportion, shape, tonal value and color. Students work through the curriculum in a step-by-step progression. Aristides Atelier students are also encouraged to take additional classes in perspective, anatomy, composition, painting techniques and color theory; and, with the help of the instructor, put it all together to achieve a high degree of skill in observation, theory and craft.

Year at a GlanceDuring the first year in the atelier, students are immersed in drawing and design, learning how to sight and measure subjects in order to reproduce them accurately. Exercises are designed to improve drawing skills, with an emphasis on contour, proportion, gesture, anatomy, modeling and the shape of light and shadow.

Once students acquire the requisite drawing skills, focus turns to the art and science of painting. Painting projects are designed for the beginning painting student. Emphasis is on drawing accuracy, handling the paint, and the careful observation of light and shadow. Students eventually progress to using a limited and then full palette while completing increasingly complex projects in cast and still-life painting.

Development of a strong artist résumé through inclusion in Gage exhibitions and competitions

24 hour access to a dedicated studio space

Free open studio drawing

Open access to lectures

First-year students receive one free sculpting class of their choice

Curriculum ProgressionIt was common practice in the 19th-century to prove one's ability to draw in general before being allowed into the life-drawing room. Students began by copying lithographs or engravings to learn technique and aesthetics. When found competent in copying, students would graduate to drawing from the antique. Drawing these plaster casts, students learned directly from great works of sculpture, the aesthetic translation necessary to transform life into a work of art. Only then would the novice be allowed to join the life-drawing room where all the experience gained in copying masters would pay off in tackling the complexity of real life. Everyone had a similar experience, creating a common language and high level of competency from the beginning of training.

Cast DrawingCast drawing is a way of learning the design systems found in the art of the ancient world through emulation. Atelier students work from classical statuary under unchanging light conditions. The light and cast set-up is designed to enhance form and clarify value relationships, to gain rendering skills and a command of the materials.

Cast PaintingCast painting is a monochrome oil painting that carries the lessons of the cast into the medium of paint. Learn to address the problems of painting: dividing light and shade, blocking-in, handling the materials and finishing without the complication of color.

Figure & Portrait DrawingDrawing the human form is the benchmark of a classical education, and forms the focal point of the Aristides Atelier program. The goal is unflinching accuracy combined with a thorough knowledge of design. In the spirit of the Greeks, students seek to understand nature thoroughly, and reconstruct it to convey the power of life. Learn to creating a strong block-in, understand the gesture, separate shadow from light and concentrate on understanding and rendering form.

Figure & Portrait PaintingUnlike figure drawing (which focuses on linear relationships) figure painting explores mass and form. The goal is to become comfortable handling paint and to understand the procedures necessary to begin and finish a painting. Students complete a drawing and transfer it to a panel or canvas, then create poster studies and an underpainting in either monochromatic tones or full color. The process ends with the final layers of paint to complete an intelligent painting.

Still-Life PaintingThe focus of still-life painting is one of composition (design) and color. This module of the Aristides Atelier begins with methods for creating thoughtful, interesting arrangements and continuing the examination of relationships between masses of value, color and intensity. Paintings progress from poster studies to highly finished areas of turning form. Students are introduced to color through studying several limited palettes, including how to mix neutrals and the concept of color keying.

InstructorJuliette Aristides

Juliette Aristides has led the Aristides Atelier since 1999. She is the author of three books published by Random House: Lessons in Classical Drawing: Essential Techniques from Inside the Atelier, Classical Drawing Atelier: A Contemporary Guide to Traditional Studio Practice and Classical Painting Atelier: A Contemporary Guide to Traditional Studio Practice. She frequently contributes to The Artist's Magazine and has had her work featured in national and international magazines such as American Art Collector and Gulf Connoisseur Magazine. She also teaches workshops across the United States and in Italy; and has shown her work in numerous solo shows and dozens of group shows nationally and internationally.

Juliette began her studies in the studio of Myron Barnstone, The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, then at The Atelier in Minneapolis in the tradition of Richard Lack. This work was followed by two years of instruction at the National Academy in New York with Jacob Collins, while also receiving instruction from Carlos Madrid. She spent a year working with a small group of students at Jacob Collins' studio prior to becoming a founding member of the Water Street Studio in Brooklyn, New York.

"Craftsmanship is the foundation of self-expression, not the lack of it. I have a simple belief that the goal of learning to draw and paint is attainable by anyone who is willing to pursue it. It is as accessible as learning to write or play a musical instrument. Not everyone, however, has the desire and discipline to learn traditional drawing and painting skills--and these skills are not offered to the average student. Students should be given the tools to fully express all they see and feel."- Juliette Aristides

We offer weekly Art Classes, Workshops, Intensive Summer Programs, and Open Studios for artists of all abilities who desire to study drawing and painting in the tradition of Contemporary Classical Realism. We are located 30 minutes south of San Francisco in mid peninsula's beautiful town of San Carlos CA, County of San Mateo. The New BACAA studio has 50 ft wide north facing window and 20 ft high ceiling, which provide the ideal environment for classical study. Please visit the About us page for local accommodations and affordable housing. BACAA (Bay Area Classical Artist) on Facebook.com.

Linda Dulaney, Founder of BACAA, is a lifelong artist who manifested her desire to bring a school to life in the San Francisco Bay Area, based on the ateliers of 19th century Paris. Starting in the mid 1990s, Linda developed a clear understanding of the style and type of instruction she wanted in an atelier.

Linda's teaching experience and artistry comes from years of study with some of the greatest realist artists. Her most influential teachers were Tony Ryder, Ted Seth Jacobs and Michael Grimaldi. Her passion is to teach each student so that they can to learn the principles of working from life. She is passionate and committed to teaching her students to see the beauty that is conveyed working from natural light. She relentless in furthering the students skills to develop their artwork by working from life. Her inspiration is to teach and discover the fascinating human structure form. She currently teaches the ongoing daytime classes at BACAA.

Classes

Our classes at BACAA, offer the opportunity for intensive study, working from nature. Students will learn techniques and process to see and work from life. The process includes structure, proportion and how to correctly block in the outside graphic shape, drawing the contour and modeling the form.

The techniques that Linda Dulaney teaches will help students develop their artwork, conveying the natural organic forms and science of light on the form. Students will have the opportunity to work methodically through a process to compare what they see and draw from nature.

Linda's teaching experience and artistry comes from years of study with some of the greatest realist artists. Her most influential teachers were Tony Ryder, Ted Seth Jacobs and Michael Grimaldi.

During the classes students have the opportunity to further develop their artwork by working from our beautiful cast collection and master copies. Students have the option to work independently to create a portfolio from the model in long pose.

We work from life, live models, drapery, casts, still life.We do not use photographs as references in our sessions with exception to master copies.

Andrea J. SmithEmail: info@ateliercanova.comWebsite: http://www.ateliercanova.comVia Delle Colonnette, 26ARome, 186 ItalyPhone: (39) 347 826 5081 Atelier Canova is situated in the heart of Rome's historic city center, just a few blocks from the Spanish Steps and the legendary Via Margutta, known for it's antique shops and art galleries. We are located on the second and top floor, of a landmark building where the famed neoclassical sculptor Antonio Canova once worked. The studio has perfect north-lit windows, high ceilings with a skylight, a small balcony, and can comfortably accommodate a maximum of five students per class. The atelier offers a study program which suits a full time or part time schedule and caters to all levels of experience. We are the only art school in Rome that offers classical training and instruction and critiques may be given in Italian or English.

Students who wish to develop their skills in one particular genre or those visiting Italy for an extended vacation, may choose to enroll in a weekend or two week intensive workshop. We offer a variety of short term weekend course options ranging from figure or cast drawing, to still life and portrait painting; a total of 12 - 45 hours of class time.

Intensive workshops offer more in-depth study opportunities, and typically run for a two week block. These courses are held every morning and afternoon from Monday to Friday; a total of 60 hours of class time. Students may select from both studio based and/or plein air intensive workshop options. Studio based workshops include still life and portrait painting classes. Plein air painting workshops are conducted on the streets and piazzas of Rome ("Cityscapes"), and further afield in private villas in the Tuscan countryside.

Full Time ScheduleThe Formal Course

Students based in Rome may choose to enroll in the regular academic year curriculum, meeting four days a week for classes, and working on their own projects and visiting museums, in their spare time. This formal course is an adaptation of the training Smith received during her time in Florence and New York, and encompasses both drawing and painting. It runs from November to May. This is a flexible program of study and students may begin at any time during this period and work at their own pace. The Atelier Canova specializes in two drawing classes: The Charles Bargue Drawing Course - ‘Cours De Dessin’ (*see below) and a figure drawing class - ‘Disegno Dal Vero’. These introductory classes are designed to equip the students with competent drawing skills and the ability to simplifying complex subject matter. They also acquire a strong understanding of value and tonal relationships; two of the most important elements needed to guide them easily into the painting program.All students will begin the formal course by studying the Bargue lithographs, first in pencil, then in charcoal. After which, they then move on to three dimensional work, through a series of cast drawings, initially in charcoal and concluding with charcoal and white chalk. The drawing program is then completed with a grisaille painting. This is a translation of the original charcoal and white chalk drawing, into a black and white painting.After this point, the student moves on to the painting section of the program. The skills acquired throught the drawing course are then applied to color firstly by completing several ‘limited palette’ still life paintings, and eventually moving on to figure and portrait painting using an ‘extended palette’.

*‘COURS DE DESSIN’ (The Charles Bargue Drawing Course)This class is based on Gerald M. Ackerman and Graydon Parrish publishing, ‘Charles Bargue with the Collaboration of Jean-Lon Grme‘, ACR edition, 2003. ‘This complete reprint of the fabled but rare Drawing Course (Cours de Dessin) of Charles Bargue and Jean-Léon Gérôme, originally published in Paris in the 1860's and 1870's, was used to train aspiring artists in the fundamentals of drawing. With nearly 200 masterful lithographs, aspiring artists worldwide, including Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso, used it to hone their skills. While the book has 19th-century roots, it continues to serve artists, art teachers, illustrators, draftsman, students of art history, and those who work in classical art ateliers.‘ Dahesh Museum, 2009 ‘DISEGNO DAL VERO’This figure drawing class meets once or twice a week. The students work in pencil or charcoal, depending on their skill level. This class is designed to supplement the Cours De Dessin program, but is also open to the general public as a sketch class and an opportunity to work from life through long poses of up to a total of 12 hours.

About the Director

Andrea J. Smith, is Australian and has fifteen years of experience teaching representational drawing and painting. She trained and taught at the Florence Academy of Art for six years. After winning the coveted ‘Alice Bale Travelling Prize‘ in 1999, she then moved to New York and in 2003 she co-founded and was the sole instructor, at the Harlem Studio of Art. During this time she also taught at The New York Academy of Art. In 2008 she returned to Italy and founded the Atelier Canova in Rome. Her work has been widely exhibited in Australia, Europe and America and since 2001 has been represented by the prestigious Forum Gallery in New York (www.forumgallery.com) To see more of Andrea J. Smith's work, please visit: www.andreajsmith.com

Atelier Canova is registered with The Harlem Studio of Art, New York as a 501(c)-3 U.S. nonprofit educational program.For detailed information on the workshop courses and schedules, please visit: www.ateliercanova.com

Students who apply to The Florence Academy of Art seek the language of Rembrandt, Velasquez, Titian, and the tools to convey their ideas with confidence through the oil or clay mediums. A common visual aesthetic draws them to the classical world (and its renaissance in Florence) to build an artistic vocabulary where beauty and humanity are intrinsic to art. To accomplish this, our methodology combines intense observation with advanced craft skills. Our curriculum comes mostly from the 19th century French academies and the teachings of master painters like Gèrôme, Bonnat and Carlos Duran. It centers on drawing (particularly drawing from the human figure), as a means to gaining skill in painting or sculpture. We also address the creative and professional position of the artist in today's world. When you walk in the door of the Florence Academy, you are assigned a north light studio space and settle into a rhythm of working that will remain constant throughout your three years of study. You spend half the day working from the figure, and half of the day in your studio, on specific exercises. As each requisite skill is acquired, a new more difficult task is assigned. By working only from life you learn to view the subject before you with accuracy, to understand the complexities of each anatomical detail, in order to draw, paint or sculpt it skillfully. Eventually, you will explore gesture, psychology, and composition, while strengthening your individual voice. You will begin to ask the questions you will face as an emerging artist: what do I want to paint? Why? What emotion do I want to convey and how? What areas of technical competence must I strengthen so as to not be held back in the articulation of my vision? Answers often come from the Uffizi, the Met, or other great museums. By exposing you to the masterpieces of humanist culture, we intend to help you develop more than technique, but the skill to transpose what is meaningful to you into your art.

The Florence Academy of Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) as an undergraduate Certificate program.

With three locations in the US and Europe, we encourage our students to take the opportunity to study in Florence, Sweden or New York. As a student you may travel between branches to spend a trimester or year studying abroad without experiencing any difference whatsoever in methodology, curriculum or teaching style. This international opportunity can be significant to your development, and enriching both artistically and personally. At the same time, thanks to our university status, you will earn U.S. college credit for your coursework done at all three campuses.

Faculty

Full-time students receive 36 hours per week of instruction, receiving one critique in the morning and one critique in the afternoon from principal faculty and assistant instructors. Instructors at the FAA are trained in the philosophy, methodology and language of instruction of The Florence Academy of Art.

The images displayed on this page are from students and graduates of The Florence Academy of Art. A number of these artists are now permanent faculty. To view hundreds of images of artwork by our students and graduates, please visit the Student Gallery, Alumni Gallery and Alumni Exhibitions on our website.

Workshops

The Florence Academy of Art offers workshops throughout the academic year. Taught by our regular faculty, the workshops provide substantial practical information for students to take home, and allow students to experience parts of our regular painting curriculum, as well as a variety of traditional mediums, charcoal, pencil, sanguine, silverpoint and oil paint. Subjects include: Figure Drawing, Figure Painting, Portraiture, Still Life, Landscape, Figurative Sculpture and Ecorché Sculpture. Guided art history tours accompany most workshops.

The Florence Academy of Art addresses the creative and professional position of the artist in contemporary society. It is proud of its talented alumni, and committed to bringing their work to the public:

A biennial Alumni Exhibition held in Florence is a showcase of work for over 80 graduates from its Painting and Sculpture Programs; patrons and galleries attend from all over the world.

A special section on its web site called the Alumni Gallery gives each alumnus his own page with images and contact information.

Financial Aid and Scholarship Opportunities

The Florence Academy of Art is committed to helping talented students in financial need. Scholarship funding and work-study opportunities are available to second and third year students in order to help them complete the full three-year program.

The Florence Academy of Art in Sweden is approved for Student Loans and Grants. Swedish students may receive study assistance from the Swedish state through CSN B1 to fund their studies at the FAA in Sweden. Students from Norway, Denmark and Finland may use this recognition to apply for funding from their respective countries.